“We did not say Nigeria will Disintegrate”- US Consul-General

The Nation Newspaper Yesterday received an august visitor in person of the Consul-General of the United States Consulate- General in Lagos, Joseph Stafford yesterday who denied the purported report that the American government had predicted that Nigeria will disintegrate in 2015.

Stafford, who visited the Nation alongside an Information Specialist in the Consulate-General, Mr Femi Omowunmi, affirmed: “I don’t know where the idea that we think that Nigeria is going to disintegrate by 2015 came from. No, we do not believe that. And we are not working for the disintegration of Nigeria.

“On the contrary, we believe that the people of Nigeria are committed to the fundamental unity of the country and we support that wholeheartedly. The idea of Nigeria, disintegrating, dismembering, is nonsense to us. “

Stafford described the Boko Haram as “a domestic extremist loose group comprising of different factions.” He said the group may have external links with al-qaeda and other groups outside the country.

“A lot still has to be learnt about the nature of those links,” he said.

He had observed that tackling the challenge posed by Boko Haram “requires a comprehensive strategy that involves more than just security.” He further stated that “Responding to the violence in the North is protecting the civilians that are in the areas where Boko Haram operates. There is the issue of respecting their rights at the same time so that they are not caught in the crossfire. And it is important to address the underlining socio-economic grievances that can give rise to extremism as represented by these elements of Boko Haram.”

Speaking on the US’s position on the growing influence of the Chinese in African economy, Stafford said: “We compete with foreign firms, whether Chinese, Western European, and so we have no sense of alarm over their role. We believe that US firms can continue to compete effectively with Chinese and other firms.”

He had asserted that what the US strives for is a, “a suitable business environment in which the sanctity of contracts is upheld, rights to investors are upheld and there is a level playing field for competition.”

While speaking on piracy and smuggling, he had said: “The US Navy has also provided maritime surveillance, installations, equipment, at different ports in Nigeria.”

The United State’s Consul General had assured that the US was ready to help Nigeria in every way possible to achieve its goals and objectives as a country.